]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2013/07/video/dan-deacon-releases-usa-compilation-music-video/feed/0The Hood Internet Releases The Mixtape Volume 7http://lamusicblog.com/2013/05/news/the-hood-internet-the-mixtape-volume-7/
http://lamusicblog.com/2013/05/news/the-hood-internet-the-mixtape-volume-7/#commentsThu, 02 May 2013 19:15:11 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=86919Trinidad James mixed with…Madeon? Waka Flocka Flame versus…Twin Shadow? Jay-Z and Daft Punk?? What? “Madness,” you might mutter aloud to yourself. Such disparate genres of music could in no way sound good together. Vulgar, filthy Top 40 hip-hop mixed in with EDM and hipster anthems? You’ll think there’s no way that could work…until you listen to it.

The Hood Internet has made a niche for themselves by melding mainstream rap and hip-hop into popular songs from the internet and making them not suck. Or suck less. Either way, the duo’s latest mixtape is full of new ways to hear a lot of songs you’ve likely heard before.

The Mixtape Volume 7 is mostly good, but there are some definite high and low points throughout its hour-long runtime. Azealia Banks and Yacht complement each other surprisingly well in “212 Paradise” (5.30). The three-way mashup between Clams Casino, Annie Hart, and BBU is also fantastic. Clams’ track “I’m God” is fantastic by itself, but the added rapping is pretty much a perfect match. It starts at 27.30. The last five minutes of this tape are wonderful, so if you’re only going to listen to one part of this mixtape, start at 55.00.

The Mixtape Volume 7 does include some letdowns. I really thought the Jay-Z/Kanye vs TNGHT mix would kick ass, but it kinda falls flat. “Pesobedear,” the mashup with Purity Ring and A$AP Rocky, didn’t really work for me either. Both are artists that I like on their own, but here? Meh.

It’s all free for streaming and download on Soundcloud, and fans of The Hood Internet can catch them when come to Los Angeles later this month for a show at the Echoplex on May 25th.

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2013/05/news/the-hood-internet-the-mixtape-volume-7/feed/0Sleeping At Last Releases Free Christmas Albumhttp://lamusicblog.com/2012/11/news/sleeping-at-last-christmas-album/
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/11/news/sleeping-at-last-christmas-album/#commentsMon, 26 Nov 2012 17:30:44 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=72832Every year around this time, it has become a bit of a tradition for me to dust off my old Christmas playlist and see if anything needs “freshening up.” This playlist can be pretty weird, with everything from Sufjan Stevens to Barenaked Ladies included, plus classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas thrown in for good measure. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Well, every year around this time, Sleeping At Last celebrates the season with me by releasing a free Christmas song. Ryan O’Neal (the man behind Sleeping At Last) calls them his “musical Christmas cards.” These sweet, simple indie Christmas songs often land one of the coveted spots on my yearly playlist, and this year, there’s even more to celebrate.

Instead of simply releasing one song, O’Neal has collected all the songs he has made over the years to create a Christmas LP. Simply called Christmas Collection 2012, the album is everything I’ve come to love about Sleeping At Last. (Check out the ukelele-driven rendition of “Christmas is All Around Us” from Love, Actually for a good example.)

The best part? The album is entirely free. You can pick yours up over at Noisetrade, with an option to donate. As Sleeping At Last has recently had some mainstream musical success (with not one, but two songs on the Twilight soundtrack), it’s really cool to see O’Neal rock the indie scene with DIY albums and free music.

For more info about Sleeping At Last, O’Neal’s upcoming mystery project, or to do some shopping during his online holiday sale, check out:

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2012/11/news/sleeping-at-last-christmas-album/feed/0Busta Rhymes Releases Year of the Dragon Mixtapehttp://lamusicblog.com/2012/08/news/busta-ryhmes-new-mixtape/
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/08/news/busta-ryhmes-new-mixtape/#commentsFri, 24 Aug 2012 18:00:38 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=61928Year of the Dragon, Busta Rhymes’ first official release since signing with Cash Money Records in 2011, was released earlier this week under Google Play and is now available for streaming or download entirely free! The free mixtape includes guest appearances from CAM’RON, Robin Thicke, Maino, Anthony Hamilton, Gucci Mane, J-Doe, Reek da Villian, Trey Songz, Rick Ross and others.

It is anticipated that Busta Rhymes’ official Cash Money debut will be Extinction Level Event II — a sequel to his 1998 opus Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front — and is rumored to drop later this year.

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2012/08/news/busta-ryhmes-new-mixtape/feed/0YouTube Pick: Ellie Goulding – Hanging Onhttp://lamusicblog.com/2012/07/video/youtube-pick-ellie-goulding-hanging-on/
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/07/video/youtube-pick-ellie-goulding-hanging-on/#commentsFri, 20 Jul 2012 17:00:41 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=59218British vocalist Ellie Goulding’s career catapulted after singing Elton John’s “Your Song” for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton last year. The growing popularity of her first album, Lights, continued to spread Goulding’s catchy pop melodies and piercing vocal pitch, and since wrapping her 2011 tour, Goulding has continued to perform at various one-offs, including ELLE Magazine’s Women In Music Event earlier this year.

Her newest track, “Hanging On,” is an Active Child cover and features English rapper Tinie Tempah (aka Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu). The song’s accompanying music video reflects the longing and hyper focus of a love you don’t want to let go of, juxtaposed with the blurred confusion of everything happening externally of the relationship. Fuzzed out crowds and double takes are a common occurrence in the video, along with close eye contact on Ellie while she mouths the words “I just can’t keep hanging on.”

The cover is meant to showcase the new direction Goulding’s music is headed in. It seems she is ditching her acoustic style for a darker side of electronic mash ups. Quite the transition. You can download Ellie Goulding’s “Hanging On” cover below for free.

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2012/07/video/youtube-pick-ellie-goulding-hanging-on/feed/2Stars Announces New Album: The Northhttp://lamusicblog.com/2012/06/news/stars-announces-new-album-the-north/
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/06/news/stars-announces-new-album-the-north/#commentsMon, 25 Jun 2012 23:00:07 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=57519Last week, Stars, the beloved Montreal indie pop band, announced that they will be releasing their 7th official album, The North, on September 4th via ATO Records. For years, Stars has been a staple of the alternative music scene thanks to their masterfully orchestrated albums and sometimes painfully relatable song themes.

As someone who has loved Stars for years and proudly proclaims the group to be one of my all-time favorites, I am beyond excited to experience Stars’ intimate and emotional music once again.

1. The Theory of Relativity
2. Backlines
3. The North
4. Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
5. Through The Mines
6. Do You Want To Die Together?
7. Lights Changing Colour
8. The Loose Ends Will Make Knots
9. A Song Is A Weapon
10. Progress
11. The 400
12. Walls

For those who aren’t too familiar with the veteran band, check out “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” from Stars’ album Set Yourself on Fire below:

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2012/06/news/stars-announces-new-album-the-north/feed/1Album Review: That Noise – Love Remains EPhttp://lamusicblog.com/2012/05/review/album-review-that-noise-love-remains-ep/
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/05/review/album-review-that-noise-love-remains-ep/#commentsTue, 01 May 2012 23:00:57 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=54347I’ve been following That Noise for a few years now (living in Los Angeles makes it easy to literally follow the band), and I’m always impressed with their ability to grow while simultaneously staying true to their signature sound. Their self-titled debut EP, released in 2008, gave us a taste of this sound — a blend of alternative rock with melodic riffs in the shape of synths and vocal melodies — and the track “No Words” illustrated their ability to beautifully integrate electronica into their music. Their next EP, the more upbeat and heart-pounding Derivatives (2009), furthered That Noise’s vision of combining rock and electronica with a little dose of vulnerability. The track “Balance” would get you dancing, and their rendition of Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” is simply fantastic.

The band’s most recent EP, Love Remains, is what I call a three-track dose of musical crack. “Only three tracks?” I can hear you thinking. Well, who says you have to release ten songs if only a few of them are going to be great? Quality not quantity seems to be the band’s principle because all three tracks on this EP are excellent.

The first, “Love Remains,” can be played in a nightclub or a rock concert. (I’m not kidding you. I can already hear the dance remixes in my head.) The track builds and dissipates all at the right moments, and the line “Love remains” echoes over and over in my head after listening. If you’re exhausted from dancing to that track, have no fear because the next track, “Erase the Pain,” is a perfect chill song, at least for those who listen to Depeche Mode before they go to bed. It has that kind of vibe, and the line “Tonight we erase the pain” is very Depeche. The last track, “Everywhere You Are,” is actually the song you will fall asleep to. It has that dreamy quality (Johnny Burkes has a dreamy voice, in general), and all of a sudden, I feel at peace with the hectic world.

The best part of this EP is that it is available for FREE DOWNLOAD on That Noise’s website. Right now, not forever. So get it now before they change their mind!

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2012/05/review/album-review-that-noise-love-remains-ep/feed/0The Morning Benders Become POP ETChttp://lamusicblog.com/2012/03/news/the-morning-benders-become-pop-etc/
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/03/news/the-morning-benders-become-pop-etc/#commentsThu, 29 Mar 2012 18:30:30 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=52075When the members of San Francisco band The Morning Benders met at college in 2005, they had no idea where their musical experimentations would lead them. When they booked their first gig performing on Berkeley’s campus, a band name had to be decided on, and they came up with two options: “The Beatles 2″ and “The Morning Benders.” Needless to say, they went with the latter and thus a band was born.

After playing many a dive bar, house party, country fair, and other locations that played fast and loose with the term “venue,” The Morning Benders embarked on their first world tour after the release of Big Echo in 2010. Little did they know that their band name had a different connotation in Europe. They found out while in the UK that “bender” is a derogatory slang term for “homosexual.” This unfortunate coincidence was unintentional, but couldn’t be changed in the middle of their tour, so they made do while on the road.

Now it is 2012, and the threesome are finishing their third album, making it an ideal time to finally change their name. From here on out, The Morning Benders will be known as POP ETC. Let’s just hope there isn’t some international snafu with the new name.

To ring in their new moniker, POP ETC is offering a mixtape of their new music. You can download it for free on their website.

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2012/03/news/the-morning-benders-become-pop-etc/feed/2Album Review: Austin Paul – This Cloudy Mixhttp://lamusicblog.com/2012/01/review/album-review-austin-paul-this-cloudy-mix/
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/01/review/album-review-austin-paul-this-cloudy-mix/#commentsWed, 18 Jan 2012 18:00:37 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=49183Sunday morning I awoke in a restless daze. I sought refuge in my iTunes library, but none was to be had. The insipid familiarity of my music library only aggravated my restive state, and I wandered through the day with my head in a cloud. Just as exasperation was turning to delirium, my phone lit up – a friend imploring me to check out this new artist out of Miami, Florida, named Austin Paul. Downloading his record was like a shot to the arm – an immediate kick of awesome. This Cloudy Mix was just released Friday, January 13, 2012, and it has quickly become my favorite record of the year to date.

This Cloudy Mix is a departure from the daily fair for Cowboys and Indians frontman, Austin Paul. At a mere 19 years old, he not only has a band but is also already releasing side projects. It seems this Miami native simply has melody running through his veins. A graduate of creative production from Miami Dade College, Paul wrote, recorded, produced, and mastered This Cloudy Mix inside the four walls of his bedroom.

With a pulsating, repetitive vibe, the production of This Cloudy Mix is reminiscent of a modern day Dark Side of the Moon – if less conceptually realized. It’s like Sufjan Stevens without the bi-polar acoustic/orchestral extremes, like Sam Sparro without the vocal gymnastics display, and like Empire of the Sun without the overproduction.

Insomuch as it’s like something else in certain respects, comparison is equally difficult to draw in others. Austin Paul has a producer’s ear for melding unexpected synth samples. Playful and spacy, the production is sometimes counterpoint to the serious and poetic lyrics. Songs like “These Cloudy Days” and “Learning/Searching” identify Paul as a producer in his own right – creative and daring, yet mainstream in his execution.

Lyrically, Paul identifies his Floridian environment as a prominent source of inspiration. His subjects (palm trees, cold fronts, bonfires) transport listeners to the sun-drenched shores of South Beach or Key West, yet his lyrics aren’t campy or theatrical; they’re about human relationships (just set in a tropical location). Furthermore, there is absolutely no brash element to his vocal performance – rather an indefinable attraction in its understated and subtle nature. He easily manipulates his dark timbre and natural baritone as he transitions into brilliant falsetto.

The record demonstrates the scope of Paul’s entire vocal range, but what’s more, This Cloudy Mix identifies Austin Paul as an artist to watch on his way up. “I Was Dancing With My Wolves” and “Sweet Dreams” are instant indie classics. I’d be surprised if he didn’t find himself on the soundtrack to the next Garden State or (500) Days of Summer. The vibe is simply perfect – the delineation of an artist who truly knows himself.

My personal favorite track off This Cloudy Mix is “Till You Feel This Heart Attack.” It’s a single, ready for radio (if not in America, then overseas). Listeners are met immediately with a bouncing, playful synth and can’t-help-but-shake-a-leg beat. With lyrical repetition, a melodic line that emphasizes rhythmic, staccato patterns, and Austin Paul’s signature downplayed vocals, the track is like the modern love child of Billy Idol and Prince.

All in all, Austin Paul’s first solo album, This Cloudy Mix, is a work ahead of its time. This newcomer is daringly unique to the American music scene. I can’t wait to see where his talent takes him as he leaves his teens and ascends the music world.

]]>http://lamusicblog.com/2012/01/review/album-review-austin-paul-this-cloudy-mix/feed/13The Weeknd Releases Echoes of Silence Mixtapehttp://lamusicblog.com/2011/12/news/the-weeknd-releases-echoes-of-silence-mixtape/
http://lamusicblog.com/2011/12/news/the-weeknd-releases-echoes-of-silence-mixtape/#commentsFri, 23 Dec 2011 19:30:25 +0000http://lamusicblog.com/?p=48445Perhaps one of the biggest underground/not-so-underground music acts to pop up this year was Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd. The artist had been spotted and pretty much endorsed by Drake, and since this discovery, The Weeknd has not stopped producing music. He appeared on Drake’s latest effort, Take Care, and in what appeared to be a thoroughly planned release schedule, he dropped two free mixtapes early this last spring and summer, entitled House of Balloons and Thursday.

Now, after deserved hype and anticipation, The Weeknd has fulfilled this so-called “Balloons Trilogy” with the release of his third free mixtape, Echoes of Silence.

Following in the footsteps of his previous mixtapes, Echoes of Silence provides nine tracks of sumptuous and experimental hip-hop stylings, continuing and/or building on themes surrounding the other releases, including a cover of the late Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana.” Also following the same release pattern, Echoes of Silence has been made available as a free digital download.

As preparation for the completion of his trilogy, The Weekend has provided a tantalizingly lengthy music video for the track “The Knowing” from House of Balloons, which you can view below. If you haven’t had a chance to check out The Weeknd’s previous offerings, free downloads are available at his website as well.